Defining Ridley Scott's Role In Halo: Nightfall

Following the teaser reveal of the upcoming live-action Halo series, Nightfall, we had a chance to sit down with executive producer on all things Halo, and owner of the world's most unforgettable name, Kiki Wolfkill, about how the series came about.

Nightfall, Wolfkill tells us, is the next step following the web series that accompanied Halo 4, Forward Unto Dawn. It serves to set up an important character in Halo 5, agent Jameson Locke. We know Locke will be important to Halo 5, and we know he will be playable in the game, but we don't know exactly what role he will play in the upcoming game.

Nightfall is an entirely separate project from the announced Steven Spielberg Halo project. That project will air on television, Wolfkill confirmed, while Nightfall will be included as part of the upcoming Halo: The Master Chief Collection. The show will be available outside of the Halo: The Master Chief Collection, though 343 Industries won't be revealing how until Gamescom.

Ridley Scott, known for directing science-fiction staples like Alien and Blade Runner, is executive producing the show and is apparently a fan of the Halo series. The partnership came about thanks to an assortment of friendships between Microsoft and Scott Free (Scott's production company) TV president David Zucker. When Microsoft brought in Scott to brief him on the Halo series, it didn't have to tell him much as he was already familiar with the adventures of Master Chief.

Scott wasn't on hand for the actual shooting on the show, but was involved in the high-level decision making directing the show. The actual shooting of the show is being handled by director Sergio Mimica-Gezzan. Mimica-Gezzan directed episodes of Battlestar Galactica and Heroes among others, and served as assistant director on Steven Spielberg films like Catch Me if You Can, Saving Private Ryan, Minority Report, and Schindler's List to name a few.

The show will feature digital effects prominently, but Scott's involvement in the project has pushed it to shoot as much of the series practically and without digital effects as possible.

Nightfall will be available starting November 11, the same day as the release of Halo: The Master Chief Collection.